Blackhawks' Keith rested, ready for post-suspension return

In case you were wondering what a former Norris Trophy winner for a postseason contender does during a league-imposed suspension, know this: Your imagination far, far outstrips the reality.

"Not a whole lot," Duncan Keith said Tuesday, when asked what he did with his involuntary sabbatical. "I walked the dogs a lot."

He'll be chasing skaters instead of household pets Thursday, though, when the Chicago Blackhawks blue-liner returns from a five-game suspension against the Wild.

In all seriousness, the defenseman who ranks second in the league with 26 minutes 53 seconds of ice time per game finds himself somewhat refreshed -- and a little bit heavier -- after the sabbatical. Keith said he weighed in at 200 pounds Tuesday, when last year he'd been whittled down to 190 at this stage.

"I've got some strength back," Keith said. "We're going to play a lot of games here in a short period of time coming up, so I think it'll be good."

Not shockingly, Keith will be reunited with Brent Seabrook immediately upon his return in Minnesota. And while Hawks coach Joel Quenneville saw evidence of fresh legs during Tuesday's workout, Keith disputed the suggestion that it was a much-needed respite.

"I don't think taking a suspension is ever a good thing," Keith said. "But if you're trying to look for the positives, I guess getting some rest at this point of the year would be beneficial. But I didn't feel like I needed rest. I've been able to play a lot of games every year."

As for the concussion suffered by the Canucks' Daniel Sedin as a result of the elbow that earned Keith his supension, the Hawks defenseman was politely blunt Tuesday.

"I'm not going to get into any of that right now," Keith said. "I don't know what's going on over there, so I can't comment."